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East County | Schools

    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 20, 2025
Superintendent finalists share their goals for Manatee County School District

Laurie Breslin and Misty Mathis spent Aug. 18 being interviewed by the school board and meeting with community members.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 18, 2025
New high school will be built in Lakewood Ranch

High School AAA is estimated to cost $200 million with the goal of opening in August 2027.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 12, 2025
Manatee School Board selects two finalists for superintendent position

Laurie Breslin and Misty Mathis will meet the public Aug. 18 at Manatee Technical College.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 11, 2025
Lake Manatee K-8 opens to students for the first time in Lakewood Ranch

On the first day of school, Principal Todd Richardson was eager to finally have students on campus.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 11, 2025
New phone policy will be 'learning curve' for Manatee students

Per House Bill 1105, elementary and middle school students will be required to turn off and stow away electronic devices during school.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 8, 2025
One final year for Lakewood Ranch Prep seniors to chase their dreams

Shaun Ulstad and Andrew Cordani hope their work gains them acceptance into MIT.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • August 5, 2025
School board to decide fate of new high school in Lakewood Ranch

Two options being studied for a high school at Rangeland Parkway and Post Boulevard, along with a possible expansion at Braden River High.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 30, 2025
Charter schools eager to make use of sales tax dollars

Starting in the 2025-26 school year, Manatee County charters will receive 50% of their proportionate share of anticipated revenue from the half-penny sales tax.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 27, 2025
Braden River FFA students study agriculture in Ireland

Their visits include a dairy farm and an "Irish racehorse experience."

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 23, 2025
12 of 17 east Manatee County schools earn overall A grades

The School District of Manatee County receives an overall B rating.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 21, 2025
New principal at Bashaw Elementary has high expectations for staff and students

Nicole Williams will begin her 30th year in education in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 18, 2025
Exciting school year ahead for Manatee schools

Interim Superintendent Kevin Chapman says new schools, student achievement strides spark enthusiasm in the new school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 18, 2025
Hiring superintendent tops District 5 school board member's goals

Richard Tatem says increasing vocational opportunities, increasing on-time bus routes important goals in 2025-26.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 18, 2025
Letter from your education reporter: There's a lot to look forward to in the 2025-26 school year

Manatee County schools provides a much larger district to cover than she grew up with in Iowa.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 16, 2025
Lake Manatee K-8 school readies for opening day in Lakewood Ranch

Administrators, teachers and students are all beginning their voyage at the new school together.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • July 15, 2025
What does it take to use Manatee schools as hurricane shelters?

In the midst of a severe storm, no one is turned away from the Manatee County schools that serve as shelters.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 15, 2025
ODA hosts Little Medical School-Suncoast marine biology camp

Campers learned about pollution, tracking turtles, the layers of the ocean and more.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 14, 2025
Manatee needs more testing on electric school buses

Cost and the ability to serve open areas are just some of the areas that need more exploration before the School District of Manatee County purchases additional electric buses.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 13, 2025
3 major construction projects are almost finished for Manatee schools

Along with the new Lake Manatee K-8, the other two projects will increase capacity for students and help with overcrowding.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 12, 2025
Beef 'O' Brady's hosts second supply drive for Tara Elementary teachers

Community members can participate until July 31 to help ease the burden of teachers spending their own money for supplies.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 9, 2025
Tax collector charges Manatee County schools $1.5M

The Manatee County tax collector decides to take a $1.5 million commission from the school district's referendum funds.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • July 4, 2025
Nolan Middle student places third at international HOSA event

Peter Hotaling, 13, entered his speech in the Health Career Preparation category against students from around the world.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 27, 2025
MTC graduates reflect on their lessons at graduation

Graduates Hailey Lopez-Lanuza and Sophia Swim said they found their passions at MTC.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 25, 2025
Manatee County School District seeks public feedback on rezoning

School officials and board members ask the public to make comments on the district's website.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 23, 2025
'Crazy cooks' broaden their palettes at The Out-of-Door Academy

In a camp hosted by Pure Imagination Studio and Sarasota Parks and Recreation, 22 campers learned to prepare 10 different meals and desserts.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 20, 2025
Superintendent applications open for Manatee County School District

In a special meeting, the school board further discussed its expectations and approved a new timeline.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 17, 2025
Mona Jain Middle art student receives Dalí exhibit's Award of Excellence

Bronx Hanratty, a 13-year-old artist, created a piece in Photoshop to project his view on mental health.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 11, 2025
Lakewood Ranch Junior Ranchers learn about agriculture through camp

Counselors help the kids learn hands-on lessons about cows, snakes and insects.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 10, 2025
Manatee school board fires teacher accused of sexting student

Oliver Fell was charged with lewd conduct against a student by an authority figure and transmission of harmful material to a minor.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 4, 2025
Manatee school board will vote to give charters a cut of half-penny tax

Since 2023, charter schools have not received funding from the half-penny sales tax.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 4, 2025
Manatee school board wants fast process to find new superintendent

The School Board of Manatee County aims to have a new superintendent in place by the time the 2025-26 school year begins in August.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 3, 2025
Haile Middle School teacher arrested on charge of lewd contact

The student told deputies that the teacher sent an explicit photo.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 2, 2025
Students begin high school early with Lakewood Ranch Prep Soar program

Students in the Soar program have the opportunity to earn as many as 60 college credits during their five-year high school career.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 30, 2025
Two Lakewood Ranch High teachers retire after 38-year careers

Bryan Thomas has taught at LWRHS since its opening while Daniel Bryan-Beachler has taught at the school since 2001.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 30, 2025
Manatee school district leaders thank bus drivers the last day of the school year

The bus drivers' "wave-off" has been a tradition since 2015 in the School District of Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • May 24, 2025
ODA graduates reflect on the road ahead

The top graduates of ODA were heavily involved in horseback riding, sports and stem based activities while maintaining success in the classroom.

  • East County
  • Schools
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